SAUGERTIES, N.Y. (NEWS10) – Four people were killed and one was severely injured after a single car crash in the village of Saugerties Wednesday morning.

Just before 11:40 a.m. Wednesday, police responded to a call that a vehicle went over an embankment.

According to police, a Honda Accord occupied by five people was traveling south on Washington Avenue when the operator failed to negotiate a turn at the intersection of Washington Avenue and Montgomery Street.

The vehicle continued south, traveled down a private drive, and then went over an embankment falling 110 ft. onto Dock Street. Prior to coming to a stop, the vehicle struck a Dock Street home and caused extensive damage to the residence.

The vehicle came to rest on its roof with all five occupants inside.

“At this point in time, there is no indication that brakes were applied,” Saugerties Police Chief Joseph Sinagra said. “It appears that the vehicle was actually accelerating at the time of the accident.”

Police do not know why the car was speeding up. Sinagra said Ulster County called in special services to help deal with the tragedy.

“It’s extremely unfortunate,” Sinagra said. “It’s horrific just to have more than one person killed in an automobile accident, but to have four lives taken – four young lives taken – in such a tragic accident. We called in the mobile crisis team from Ulster County from mental health to assist, and just not only debriefing members of EMS and fire and law enforcement that were at this particular incident, but also the family members of those that lost loved ones.”

The driver was identified as 19-year-old Meredith McSpirit, of Kingston. She was extricated from the vehicle and flown to Albany Medical Center. She suffered a spinal injury and is listed in stable condition.

The four additional occupants sustained fatal injuries and were declared deceased at the scene.